Need input on water flow/circulation... please...

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Abarnswell

New Member
I'm not sure that the water flow/circulation in my 15 g. tank is what it should be. I have an AquaClear 50 (formerly the 200) hanging on the back. This filter is rated for a 20-50 gallon tank. I have a 15 g. tank. The filter is hanging on the back, in the center of the tank, so the strongest flow comes right down the middle of the tank and disperses from there.

Sometimes I think the outflow is too strong. But I also have areas of much lower current around the sides of the tank. Then sometimes I think I might need a powerhead? I tried one, but it was way too powerful and I took it out.

What do you guys think? Too much flow? Not enough flow? My Watchman Goby is still all the time, he doesn't seem to be buffeted with too much flow. But my pair of Clowns are swimming pretty vigorously all the time. Is the flow too much for them?

I have only soft corals: pulsing Xenia (which love strong flow), flower polyps (which don't want strong flow), a tiny leather toadstool mushroom, and a few other assorted polyps.
 
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shaggydoo541

New Member
As long as all your inhabitants are happy you should be fine. But I would put the powerhead back in just to get rid of some of the deadspots that occur by having only one source of flow. I have a AC500 and a maxi-jet 900 in my 18G and all my inhabitants like the increased flow. I have areas of high flow where I put my xenia and SPS and areas of low flow where my mushroom and blasto reside.
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
I also say that your tank will tell if you really need more flow but I too would be afraid of those little dead areas where detritus can accumulate. If you are afraid of too much flow there are a couple of small powerheads that should be able to fit your needs. I would look for a Zoomed 104 which is a tiny powerhead (up to about 60 gph), I also seem to remember Tunze making a very similar siaed powerhead. I got my Zoomed from www.marinedepot.com , here is a link to it: http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem. ... uct=MZ3151 . HTH, Skip
 
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incysor

New Member
Just be aware that rio pumps are generally the ford festivas of powerheads. Yes they work, yes they're cheap. But they're still not as well made, reliable, or safe as others. There are tons of threads out there where rio pumps failed, and killed off tanks because when they burned out they leaked toxic or caustic stuff into tanks. This is mainly with the larger return pumps, but they're all cheap. That said, I have three of them running in various tanks now. But I also know that you get what you pay for, and I'm not gonna be surprised when they die on me.

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incysor

New Member
April,

I doubt that that filter alone is gonna be enough flow.

I'm running an AC500 converted to a fuge on a 10g, and it still needs a ph in the tank for added flow.

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